Donald Piva, Jr., 63

Donald Piva, Jr passed away in his home on June 21, 2025. He was 63.

DJ was born on November 25, 1961 to the late Donald and Barbara (Roy) Piva, and resided in Dartmouth for most of his life. He graduated from Bristol Agricultural High School where he pursued his knack for raising livestock and played '70s style hockey. From an early age, he also had an affinity for unique cars and off-road bikes.

Along with Dad and his brothers, DJ worked in the family business, Don Piva & Sons Trenching Service. Dad taught him his skill as an excavator which was amazing to watch. He was an earth mover whose precision and mastery reflected his craft.

DJ saw beauty and potential in places others would never look. In recent years, he was a jack-of-all-trades, working for neighbors and friends who praised his workmanship. His true personality was that of a generous soul whose life and loves were impacted by the power substances had over him for so many years. Often, he could be seen walking his beloved dog, Jesse, in and around Buttonwood Park.

Surviving family members include his daughter Abigail, her partner Mario and her two children, his brother Steve and wife Michelle, a sister Donna Labelle and her husband Ronald, sister Nance Bellizzi and her husband Jim, sister Barbaranne Jenney and her husband Donald "Bub", and his brother Jim and his wife, Ricki. He also leaves several nieces and nephews and his former wife Rosemary Dupre.

A memorial mass in his memory will be held at Our Lady of Purgatory, 4254 Acushnet Ave, New Bedford, on Saturday, September 20, 2025 at 4:30 pm. Those wishing to may make memorial donations in DJ's memory to: The Neediest Family Fund The Standard Times 25 Elm Street, New Bedford MA 02740 (Mail in). Online at https://www.southcoast.org/giving/. Arrangements are with the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford. For directions and guestbook, visit www.saundersdwyer.com.